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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 2015 over 12% of American adults had diabetes. Other sources estimate that 40% of US adults have prediabetes. Chances are if you’re reading this blog it’s because you or someone you love might be one of them.You may be overweight or obese, which are both risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Maybe your doctor told you that you are at risk, or that you need to take a fasting glucose tolerance test.

Dr. Shillingford’s gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients have always been encouraged to attend his monthly Nutrition Support meeting held the second Monday of each month. Attending the meeting is often difficult for many patients due to a variety of factors (distance, timing, work, family responsibilities, etc).

Obesity comes with a cost. First, there is a cost to an individual’s health. At least nine health conditions are associated with obesity. Second, there is a financial cost to obesity. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the US is $147 billion dollars (in 2008 dollars). For each individual with obesity, annual medical costs are estimated to be $1429 higher than their normal weight peers.

Thirty million people in America have diabetes, but only fraction actually know it. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death as of 2015, along with heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It’s also one of the comorbidities of obesity. Roughly one third of Americans are obese, which puts many Americans at risk for type 2 diabetes. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help hasten a diagnosis, and being able to control blood sugar levels is crucial to limiting the harm that may come from the disease if it’s left unchecked.

The 2018 State of Obesity report has been released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The results are not heartening. Seven states have adult obesity rates over 35%. No states reported a decline in adult rates of obesity.

Exercise is crucial for everyone’s health and wellbeing, but it’s especially important for those seeking to lose weight and improve their health. This includes obese and overweight individuals striving for weight loss through diet and exercise, but also gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band incorporating exercise into their new post bariatric surgery lifestyle.

Insulin sensitivity is how sensitive a person’s body is to insulin. Ideally, you want your body to be highly sensitive to insulin, meaning your body responds quickly, appropriately, and efficiently when it senses insulin is released. Insulin takes carbohydrates into cells to be used for fuel.

Weight loss has long been known to help improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Medical professionals often recommend a weight loss of about 5 to 10% of a person’s body weight to help improve their blood sugar control and hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c), which indicates long-term glucose control.

Finding delicious and low carbohydrate meals can be difficult for people with obesity and diabetes. Delicious recipes are easy to find, and low carbohydrate recipes are all over the internet. But, recipes that are both delicious AND low in carbohydrates can be a lot trickier to find.

"Eat your vegetables" is something you probably hear in your sleep. Between your doctor, dietitian, endocrinologist, and bariatric surgeon you probably have heard that adage a hundred times. And it’s true, you should eat your vegetables. They are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are all great for diabetics. But, some vegetables could actually be causing spikes in your blood sugar.